Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2013

Several documentaries have focused on Bruce Lee. This is another one. Such films as The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon and Game of Death positioned the US-born Lee as the once and forever king of martial arts. But did you know that he was also once a successful child actor? How about a Cha Cha dancing champ? A Hong Kong bad-boy street fighter? A philosopher? The doc was made by Pete McCormack, who made the intriguing Facing Ali, comprising interviews with Muhammad Ali’s notable opponents. Here McCormack widens his interviewee net to include Lee’s widow, his daughter, a few friends, boxers and MMA fighters, as well as a few fairly absurd choices. Like TV’s Ed O’Neill, the Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo, professional dancer Jose Ruiz III and some meathead UFC fighter. Who cares? Mickey Rourke talks about himself. I liked the good writing and the spiffy editing, in which scenes from Lee’s movies complement what is being said, and the film’s general comprehensiveness. But I would have preferred a Facing Ali approach. Where was Chuck Norris, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Saxon?

Showing from Jun 22